The passing of legendary boxer and activist, Muhammad Ali probably hit no one harder than his children. The ‘People’s Champ’ had nine children, all who had a relationship with their father.

Ali’s daughters Rasheda and Hana wrote about his passing on Twitter and his role as a father. “The Greatest Man that ever lived,” Rasheda said. “Daddy my best friend & my Hero You R no longer suffering & now in a better place.”

In a lengthier statement, Hana shared the last moments shared with the legend. “Our hearts are literally hurting,” she starts off by saying.

Adding, “But we are so happy daddy is free now. We all tried to stay strong and whispered in his ear, ‘You can go now. We will be okay. We love you. Thank you. You can go back to God now.’ All of us were around him hugging and kissing him and holding his hands, chanting the Islamic prayer. All of his organs failed but his heart wouldn’t stop beating. No one had ever seen anything like it. A true testament to the strength of his spirit and will! Thank you all for your love and support!!!”

In addition to the outpouring of love from his children, President Barack Obama released a statement commemorating his passing. “Like everyone else on the planet, Michelle and I mourn his passing,” he said. “But we’re also grateful to God for how fortunate we are to have known him, if just for a while; for how fortunate we all are that The Greatest chose to grace our time.”

As reported by the BBC, A huge procession and funeral will be held for Muhammad Ali on Friday to “allow anyone that is there from the world to say goodbye”, his family says. The funeral will be in Ali’s home city of Louisville, Kentucky. Ex-President Bill Clinton will deliver a eulogy.

Comedian Billy Crystal and sports journalist Bryant Gumbel are also expected to speak.